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PM: Give more support to those tackling child abuse

PRIME Minister David Cameron says efforts must be “redoubled” to support those fighting child abuse following the Bullfinch case.

The Witney MP said: “This has been a particularly horrific and shocking case, and I pay personal tribute to the incredible bravery of the young people who, despite suffering this terrible abuse, had the courage to come forward and help put the perpetrators behind bars.”

Oxford City Council leader Bob Price said: “I think that the sentences send a very strong message to the world at large that the community of Oxford feels horrified and disgusted at the crimes that were carried out and that they will not tolerate this kind of behaviour in the future. We wish the community to protect our young people from predatory adults in as robust a way as we can.”

Six girls were abused by the gang between 2004 and 2012, and an independent serious case review will now investigate why police and social services failed to stop the abuse earlier.

Oxfordshire County Council yesterday said chief executive Joanna Simons had not reconsidered her decision not to resign following protests outside the Old Bailey.